Three Years of Lies The Day My World Burned

nkins, a divorce lawyer Sarah Chen,

nsultation," I told

his wasn't ju

emporary place – a luxury hotel s

very shaken. Staying wi

y?" No "Sorry a

at the hospita

rged after a few ho

insisted on a full c

distance in the

ng to feed Ethan a

ling when some of it

ed. Ind

iles at a child's m

de me

be his wife. The o

ays got to pl

at his chin w

ible. You got hurt because

sic

. He took her hand. "It was a little smoke.

discomfort, his own

e alwa

ed to fall. Big, fa

career...

loser. "Shhh. Don'

, his voice low, conspiratorial,

be a corporate lawyer. All those mer

ng up at him through

e kids? You said you wanted to own a string o

d you'd be my business manager, m

e, almost boyish smile

hat," he said softly. "Maybe t

career, the one his family had pushed him

childhoo

od ran

her arms aro

ways know how to m

r back, stro

tender

in the publi

ought for me, his wife, who he knew

moment, the scene b

ned and wa

ch anymore. It

timacy. The s

clearly want

, I bumped into one of Ethan'

surprised

out the fire. Is

r. Davies. Ju

rson dinner like that. But knowing Ethan, if it involved

ded me a th

s morning. It's for Ethan

itched. "Re

nd a desire to 'pursue other ventures.' Frankly, Ava, w

oked genuinel

elcome back, if he changes his mind. Th

lope. It felt h

in a cab, heading hom

isive handwriting on

my position... to pursue long-held personal aspirations that

l corpor

bottom, almost an afterthought, yet it s

h its flock, not be tethered to the groun

e? N

names for her

there. Blac

a placeholder. His

econdary to

against the cool

life. Dicta

es. His s

here did

The thing holding

when his "eagle" had temporar

pair, so profound it

mething else

old, har

reso

o fly with

t the teth

went straight

ledger t

new brows

ture firms, A

rom architecture school, had

esigner. We'd always talked a

esigns." It had

Sarah'

s steady a

p?" Sarah's cheerfu

surprisingly firm. "Remember

esigns,' we called it back th

my lips. "New Leaf D

us, Ava? You w

d a new leaf. A whole new tre

! This is amazing! Austin is booming

iasm was i

a long time, I felt

. That's exactl